art and the female experience

Recently, I got into listening to podcasts, and more specifically, podcasts about art history. I’ve always had an interest in art (obviously, if you follow my instagram) but listening to these podcasts gave me a whole new view on the art world I thought I knew so much about. While listening to a podcast on Sofonisba Anguissola, a female renaissance artist, by ArtCurious, I began to really think about the number of female artists I knew of. The podcast began by asking listeners to name 5 women artists. Even I, a prospective art major who’s quizzed over one new art style a week (thanks Mrs. Kelly!), could only list three off the top of my head: Georgia O’Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, and Mary Cassatt- artists that were well-known regardless of their gender It took me a few minutes to dig up from the back of my memory: Berthe Morisot, Janet Fish, and 1/2 of the environmental artist couple, Jean-Claude and Christo (full disclosure: I only know of the latter two because of my advanced art class). Why is it so easy for me, or anyone off the streets for that matter, to name 5 male artists? Or even ten? Or more? Matisse, Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Dali, Warhol, Pollock, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Seurat, Kandinsky, Vermeer, Degas, Klee, Manet, Cezanne, Chagall? I could go on and on...

So what gives?

While visiting my sister in Louisville, I spent some time at the Speed Art Museum. It was a wonderful collection of art from all different kinds of people and places. But my favorite part was a special exhibition: Women Artists in the Age of Impression. It was probably one of the best exhibits I’ve ever seen. I wandered through, not believing how many of these artists I’d never heard of. That’s when I got thinking: Why are male artists so much more well-known than female artists?

In the podcast on Sofonisba Anguissola, it was mentioned how it was so rare that she was able to study art. She was a daughter of wealthy nobility, who studied under some of the more famous renaissance artists of the time. Imagine if she hadn’t been born into a rich family. Where would she be? She had a leg up on most women, and even then she had to fight for her place.

Historically, women artists were never taken seriously. Anything they did was belittled, if they were even allowed to create at all. The sexism in the art world of the past still continues into the present, which leads to the creation of collectives such as Get It Girl Collective (@getitgirlcollective on Instagram). In the wake of the Time’s Up movement, the Women’s March, and much more, women artists are being heard. Get It Girl Collective showcases 3 female artists: Audrey Lee, Amelia Giller, and Xoana Herrera, all of whom create works on aspects of the female experience, like motherhood and social issues we face. It’s here in the day and age of women’s empowerment that we are finally hearing more from these female artists.

In the past, men dominated the art world, but now women are looking to level the playing field with paint brushes in hand.

Image by @getitgirlcollective on IG

- Cailin